Five Tips for a Successful 2019 Annual Meeting Proposal

AACTE experienced another record-setting year for its Annual Meeting in 2018, receiving an astounding 567 proposals for consideration. Given the limited number of spaces available for presentations, we were able to accept only 47% of the proposals received.

Looking to share your work at AACTE’s 2019 Annual Meeting in Louisville? Then you will want to prepare a proposal that stands out in our competitive, peer-review process. Here are five tips to keep in mind:

1. Follow the Format – Reviewers evaluate proposals based on 10 criteria and elements outlined in the Expectations for Presentations. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these prior to writing your proposal. And most importantly, be sure to NOT include any information that identifies either the authors or the institutions in the written proposal.

2. Choose Your Title Wisely – The title of your proposal is the first thing a reviewer sees, so choose a title that clearly conveys your topic. While a catchy title can be fun, selected proposals tend to state their subject matter upfront in the title.

3. Speak to the Session Type – Back for the 2019 Annual Meeting are the new session types introduced last year to more actively engage attendees in the learning experience. These new formats were quite popular with the 2018 attendees, who called them “engaging” and “entertaining.” When submitting a proposal, you will be asked to identify the type of session you want to present. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the AACTE session types in advance, and then construct your proposal so that it reflects the format and goals of the session type you choose.

4. Make It Relatable, Yet Relevant – You know your research and work well, but how will AACTE’s Annual Meeting attendees relate to it? The ideal session not only engages attendees and their interests through the learning process outlined, but also expands the knowledge base of the profession. Of course, your proposal should also address the specific information requested in AACTE’s official Call for Proposals.

5. Tips and Takeaways – A winning presentation is one that provides participants with some policies, practices, or plans they can implement when they leave the Annual Meeting. Attendees are looking for these takeaways, and your proposal should tell reviewers what knowledge those attending will be able to apply back at their institutions.

Think you have a winning idea for a session at AACTE’s 2019 Annual Meeting? Be sure to submit your proposalby May 29 for consideration.